The body of slain Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker Choorakkad Biju was cremated at his native village of Kakkampara, near Payyannur, on Saturday amid tense situation that escalated following the murder on Friday.
The body was taken from the Pariyaram Medical College Hospital around 12.30 p.m. after post-mortem in a procession accompanied by a convoy of large number of vehicles. Police personnel were deployed in large numbers along the route.
The medical college area witnessed tense moments in the morning as irate Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and RSS workers who gathered there allegedly threw stones at an ambulance.
The police said that no untoward incident was reported during the procession. The hartal called by the BJP to protest against the killing was near total in the district.
The body was placed for public viewing at Payyannur and at Kakkampara before the cremation near the house of the victim.
According to reports, a large number of local people attended the funeral. Biju was hacked to death at 4 p.m. on Friday when he was pillion riding on his friend’s motorcycle from the Pazhayangadi railway station. He was on his way home from Mangaluru where he had been working.
The police said the attack had been carried out by a seven-member group that followed the motorcycle in a silver colour Innova car. The car first knocked down the motorcycle. Then, Biju was hacked to death. He had received fatal stab injury in his neck. His friend, identified as Rajesh, fled to safety. The police said probe was on to identify the assailants.
Unfortunate: CM
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the murder of the RSS worker was unfortunate. He stated here on Saturday that the incident should not be seen as a setback for the peace initiatives. However, such isolated incidents would adversely affect peace efforts, he said calling on those involved in the peace efforts to ensure that such incidents would not occur. He said the accused would be brought before law.
